Specialist expertise to help you have your baby

Infertility, or the inability to conceive a pregnancy after 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse, affects one in six couples in Australia. Dr Wafa Samen has particular expertise in treating PCOS and recurrent miscarriage.

Dr Samen joined Sydney’s leading group of fertility specialists, IVFAustralia, in 2010 after completing her Master's degree in Reproductive Medicine through the University of NSW. She decided to further her endocrinology studies to help her patients overcome the fertility challenges presented by their gynaecological concerns such as PCOS.

She sees patients with a wide range of fertility-relatedconcerns, including recurrent miscarriage, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and unexplained infertility. Somemay require complex surgical procedures or IVF and ICSI treatment, but many go on to conceive naturally following medication or ovulation induction (OI).

Increase your chance of conceiving naturally

Following your initial appointment and tests, Dr Samen may recommend a laparoscopy to flush out the fallopian tubes and uterus. By stimulating the receptors in the endometrium, this can increase the chance of conception naturally. Recent studies indicate this can increase the chances of pregnancy by up to 20% within two months.

If you have PCOS and are trying to fall pregnant, she may also prescribe medications such as Diabex to reduce the glucose in your bloodstream. This can hep you fall pregnant naturally, and also reduces the risk of miscarriage.

Unexplained infertility accounts for about 20% of the infertility cases Dr Samen sees. She might prescribe Clomid to regulate your ovarian function. If you’re in your late 20s or early 30s and have been trying to conceive for more than one year, IVF will be your best chance of having a baby.

What fertility treatments are available?

• Fertility surgery – laparoscopy can overcome the problems that make it difficult for you to conceive, including endometriosis and fibroids.
• Ovulation Induction (OI) – you’ll take medication to stimulate your ovaries to release eggs and maximise your chance of conception naturally or through artificial insemination (IUI).
• Artificial Insemination (IUI) – prepared semen is inserted through the cervix into your uterus, close to the time of ovulation.
• IVF treatment – the sperm fertilise the egg in a laboratory, and the fertilised embryo is then transferred to your uterus. Surplus embryos can be frozen for any future IVF cycles.
• Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) – as part of your IVF treatment, a single sperm is injected into each egg using very fine micro-manipulation equipment. This can be highly successful if you have male fertility problems.
• Other advanced treatments – IVFAustralia also offers PGD (Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis), Advanced Embryo Selection, Polcscope and Digital High Magnification of Sperm to give you the best chance of conceiving through IVF.

Where do I have fertility treatment?

Dr Samen sees patients for infertility at her practices in Auburn, St George Private Hospital, Westmead and at The Fertility Centre in Liverpool, which is a low cost clinic.

If you have IVF and ICSI treatment, she uses IVFAustralia’s laboratories, which have ISO9001, RTAC & NATA accreditations so you be assured that every step involving your eggs, sperm, and embryos is meticulously controlled.

If you are diagnosed with male factor infertility issues, Dr Samen will refer you to A/Prof Peter Illingworth or Dr Andrew Kan at IVFAustralia Kogarah and Westmead.

IVF and Islam

Dr Samen consults closely with local Islamic leaders to ensure that her IVF and fertility treatments fit within the guidelines of the Islamic faith.

> Find out more about IVFAustralia and fertility treatments